Issue - meetings

As detailed in the recommendations.

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment provided an update on the development of a 10 year Renewable Energy action plan, the reasoning for the plan and specific actions to commence the process of identifying and subsequently developing suitable sites, where approved by Cabinet.

The County owned a number of “brownfield” sites and once identified, these would be among the first to be assessed for their suitability for renewable energy generation.  One of the most promising being the opportunity to identify suitable land holdings to plant trees which would provide an ongoing supply of biomass for as long as the woodland was maintained and looked after.

There were also large amounts of waste wood collected at Council Civil Amenity Sites which had the potential to be used to provide power generation and be used to heat and light County buildings.

Timing was critical to maximise the financial benefits to the Council.  Approval of the Renewable Energy action plan would be a good step in the right direction and would enable suitable sites to be identified and submitted to future Cabinet meetings for approval.  It was anticipated that proposals for some potential schemes may be sufficiently developed to be submitted to Cabinet in April 2015 for consideration.

Cabinet Members welcomed the report which would see an enhanced environment and a reduction in fossil fuels and carbon emissions.  They also welcomed future reports to Cabinet with the identification of possible sites.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the “Large Scale Renewable Energy Action Plan” attached to the report be approved;

(b)       That the undertaking of a public consultation exercise, to gain public support/comment to the aims and objectives and to provide feedback that can help shape the Renewable Energy Action plan in future be approved; and

(c)        That investigating ways of utilising the waste wood collected at Flintshire County Council C.A. sites, as a potential fuel, be approved.